Acknowledgement message prioritization

Abstract

Various aspects are described herein. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for communicating in a wireless communication network. The method includes transmitting a message. The method further includes receiving a control protocol data unit (PDU) including a payload, the payload including an acknowledgement service data unit (SDU) of the transmitted message, in response to transmitting the message. The method further includes processing the control PDU at a lower layer based on a priority of the control PDU, wherein the priority of the control PDU is above a priority of data PDUs. The method further includes determining, based on the processing of the control PDU at the lower layer, that the payload of the control PDU includes an acknowledgement SDU. The method further includes forwarding the acknowledgement SDU to a higher layer, bypassing the lower layer. The method further includes processing the acknowledgment SDU at the higher layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for communicating in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 transmitting a message;   receiving a control protocol data unit (PDU) including a payload, the payload including an acknowledgement service data unit (SDU) of the transmitted message, in response to transmitting the message;   processing the control PDU at a lower layer based on a priority of the control PDU, wherein the priority of the control PDU is above a priority of data PDUs;   determining, based on the processing of the control PDU at the lower layer, that the payload of the control PDU includes an acknowledgement SDU;   forwarding the acknowledgement SDU to a higher layer, bypassing the lower layer; and   processing the acknowledgment SDU at the higher layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein a first field of the plurality of fields indicates the priority level of the control PDU. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control PDU comprises a plurality of acknowledgement SDUs of a plurality of transmitted messages. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a first queue for processing control PDUs at the lower layer and a second queue for processing data PDUs at the lower layer; and   placing the control PDU in the first queue.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein the plurality of fields comprises a control packet data unit type field, and wherein a value of the control packet data unit type field of the control PDU indicates the control PDU is of an acknowledgement type. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises an extension field and a length indicator field. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a data/control field that indicates that the control PDU is a control message. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for communicating in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to:
 transmit a message; 
 receive a control protocol data unit (PDU) including a payload, the payload including an acknowledgement service data unit (SDU) of the transmitted message, in response to transmitting the message; 
 process the control PDU at a lower layer based on a priority of the control PDU, wherein the priority of the control PDU is above a priority of data PDUs; 
 determine, based on the processing of the control PDU at the lower layer, that the payload of the control PDU includes an acknowledgement SDU; 
 forward the acknowledgement SDU to a higher layer, bypassing the lower layer; and 
 process the acknowledgment SDU at the higher layer. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein a first field of the plurality of fields indicates the priority level of the control PDU. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the control PDU comprises a plurality of acknowledgement SDUs of a plurality of transmitted messages. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 maintain a first queue for processing control PDUs at the lower layer and a second queue for processing data PDUs at the lower layer; and   place the control PDU in the first queue.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein the plurality of fields comprises a control packet data unit type field, and wherein a value of the control packet data unit type field of the control PDU indicates the control PDU is of an acknowledgement type. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises an extension field and a length indicator field. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a data/control field that indicates that the control PDU is a control message. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for communicating in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:
 means for transmitting a message;   means for receiving a control protocol data unit (PDU) including a payload, the payload including an acknowledgement service data unit (SDU) of the transmitted message, in response to transmitting the message;   means for processing the control PDU at a lower layer based on a priority of the control PDU, wherein the priority of the control PDU is above a priority of data PDUs;   means for determining, based on the processing of the control PDU at the lower layer, that the payload of the control PDU includes an acknowledgement SDU;   means for forwarding the acknowledgement SDU to a higher layer, bypassing the lower layer; and   means for processing the acknowledgment SDU at the higher layer.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein a first field of the plurality of fields indicates the priority level of the control PDU. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the control PDU comprises a plurality of acknowledgement SDUs of a plurality of transmitted messages. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for maintaining a first queue for processing control PDUs at the lower layer and a second queue for processing data PDUs at the lower layer; and   means for placing the control PDU in the first queue.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein the plurality of fields comprises a control packet data unit type field, and wherein a value of the control packet data unit type field of the control PDU indicates the control PDU is of an acknowledgement type. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises an extension field and a length indicator field. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a data/control field that indicates that the control PDU is a control message. 
     
     
         22 . A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for causing at least one processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 transmitting a message;   receiving a control protocol data unit (PDU) including a payload, the payload including an acknowledgement service data unit (SDU) of the transmitted message, in response to transmitting the message;   processing the control PDU at a lower layer based on a priority of the control PDU, wherein the priority of the control PDU is above a priority of data PDUs;   determining, based on the processing of the control PDU at the lower layer, that the payload of the control PDU includes an acknowledgement SDU;   forwarding the acknowledgement SDU to a higher layer, bypassing the lower layer; and   processing the acknowledgment SDU at the higher layer.   
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein a first field of the plurality of fields indicates the priority level of the control PDU. 
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the control PDU comprises a plurality of acknowledgement SDUs of a plurality of transmitted messages. 
     
     
         25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:
 maintaining a first queue for processing control PDUs at the lower layer and a second queue for processing data PDUs at the lower layer; and   placing the control PDU in the first queue.   
     
     
         26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a plurality of fields, wherein the plurality of fields comprises a control packet data unit type field, and wherein a value of the control packet data unit type field of the control PDU indicates the control PDU is of an acknowledgement type. 
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises an extension field and a length indicator field. 
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein a header of the control PDU comprises a data/control field that indicates that the control PDU is a control message.